EFFECTS OF TAR SMEARING TREATMENT ON <em>FALCATARIA</em> <em>MOLUCCANA</em> INFECTED BY GALL RUST DISEASE

Abstract

Gall rust disease caused by Uromycladium tepperianum fungus is one of the destructive diseases of Falcataria moluccana in Indonesia. The fungus induces gall formation either on stem, branch or trunk of young and mature trees. Control practice using tar solution for preventing gall reformation on stem, after removal of gall, has been conducted. However the effects of tar in inhibiting gall reformation, especially on the anatomical properties of F. moluccana xylem, are not known. This study aimed to find out the effects of tar treatment on gall reformation and the anatomical properties of F. moluccana xylem after treatment. Three kinds of treatments were applied on the trunk after the gall was removed, namey, one time tar smearing, per 15 days tar smearing and without tar smearing. Observed parameters were number of gall reformation and wood anatomical properties modification. The result indicated that tar treatments reduced gall reformation. Significant modifications on wood anatomical properties occurred in one time tar smearing treatment i.e. wood fibre diameter and ray width. The effects of gall rust on F. moluccana wood were observable through appearance of fungi mycelia in fibre cell, formation of multiseriate ray cells, presence of phenolic-like compound and modification on axial parenchyma cells configuration and narrower vessel element.